Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 22767, John Fellows, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Fellows, John
S. 22767
CONTENTS

New York (City of N.Y.) 31,40
John Fellows
of New York City, in the State of New York, who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain Bacon, of the regmt. commanded by Col. Fellows, in the Massachusetts. time for 8 months & 11 days: private.
Inscribed on the Roll of New York (City) at the rate of 27 Dollars 87 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 18 th day of July, 1838, and sent to claimant, John Fellows, at the City of N. York.
Arrears to the 4th of March 1838, $195.09 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Sept. " " 13.93
$ 209.02
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by G. J. Rhodes Clk, Book E 2 Vol. 4, Page 23.
Order to pay 18 th Sep 1839
Letter to L. Spencer 29. April 1842.
Duplicate Certificate issued 17 th May 1842, and sent to Sylvester Spencer Esq., New York

New York Common Pleas
Of Wednesday the twenty ninth seventh day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hun- dred and thirty eight.
State of New York City & County of New York ss.
Be it remembered that on the Twenty seventh ninth day of June of the term of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty eight Before the Court of Common Pleas for the City and County of New York, held at the City Hall of the city of New York, Present, the Honorable Michael Ulshooffer First Judge of the said Court and the Honorable Daniel P. Ingraham, Associate Judge thereof, the same being a court of record by the laws of the State of New York by which the same was established proceeding according to the course of the Common law with a jurisdiction unlimited in point of amount, keeping a record of its proceedings, having the power of fine and imprisonment, and a Clerk and seal and recognized and adjudged in all tribunals and courts of the several states of the United States to be a court of record personally came and appeared in open court before the said Court, now sitting at the place aforesaid John Fellows a resident of the city and County of New York in the State of New York Gentle- man aged Seventy seven years and seven months who being first duly sworn accord- ing to law, doth on his oath, make the follow- ing declaration in order to obtain the bene- fit of the act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832

and of any acts amendatory thereof, that is to say.
That the declarant entered the service of the United States at the commencement of the Revolutionary struggle in the first year of the war under the following named officers and served as hereinafter mentioned. That he entered the service in the month of May in the year one thousand eight hundred and Seventy five a very short time after the Battle of Lexington as a volunteer and private in a regiment of Militia commanded by John Fellows, Colonel thereof, the uncle of declarant, to which Major Tupper was attached and which was raised from the County of Berkshire, State of Massachusetts, in which County (in the Town of Sheffield) the declarant was born and resided at the time of his entering the said service. Declarant further saith that the Regiment arrived before Boston, to which it had been ordered, previously to the battle of Bunker Hill of which he the declarant was a distant spectator from Roxbury, his regiment having been previously stationed therein consequence of an attack being apprehended in that quarter from the enemy, on the day & at the time of the battle of Bunker Hill  the Regiment was soon after stationed at Dorchester, at which said place it remained for the remainder time of the time of his service in the said regiment. That during the time of his service he was known by the name of John Fellows junior to distinguish him from his uncle the Colonel above named whose name was also John Fellows. That while serving as aforesaid

2.
he was called out on one occasion in the night for the purpose of accompanying a Mr. Fitch on an attempt to destroy some of the enemies ships, lying in Boston Harbor, by means of a barrel of powder placed on a raft to which was attached a piece of scantling which was intended to go under the ships and upon that being effected, the powder was to be ignited, but the enterprise failed in consequence of the tide being unfavorable, and the raft was, therefore prevented from striking the ships it was aimed or directed at. The declarant on this occasion served for the period of eight months. The declarant also served for two months in the army of the revolution in a Militia or Volunteer corps, raised in the aforesaid town of Sheffield under whose special charge or command he does not now recollect, but he recollects that a Mr. Goodrich was a lieutenant in the said corps which was stationed at the White Plains at the time the British troops held possession of New York. During said service, he particularly recollects being out on duty one night with a view of intercepting a party of light horse (British) which was in the habit of making a circuitous route near the American lines at the dawn of day. It did not however appear on this occasion, and the corps in which this declarant went out, was disappointed in achieving the enterprise.
The declarant has no documentary evidence of his services, or any discharge that he knows of, nor does he know of any

person whose testimony he can procure, except the persons whose depositions are hereto annexed, to wit, Ebenezer Belfnap, David Fuller and Charity Fuller, and he further declares and swears, that he was not employed in any civil pursuit during the time of said service. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatsoever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the Agency of any state. That he has no discharge from the services above mentioned nor does he recollect that he ever had any.
Sworn to and Subscribed the day and year first above written before me John Fellows Joseph Cox Clerk of Court
We Richard Riker and John W. Merritt of the City, County and State of New York, Counsellors, at Law residing in the City of New York, do hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with John Fellows, who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing Declaration, and from his general character for veracity we have the utmost confidence in its truth. One of us, indeed, (to wit John W. Merritt) was acquainted with a Revolution-ary Soldier, a Mr. Cutler now dead, who was entitled to the greatest credit, and who informed him, that he knew the aforesaid applicant to have been in the army of the Revolution. We believe the declarant to be of the age he represents.

Probation
22767 INVALID.
File No. 22,767
John Hellner
St. Peter, Minn.
Act: June 7 th 1891
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 134
[Arrangement of 1870.]

N. York John Fellows Letter to Hon. O. Hoffman 5 July. Do. to John Fellows, 12 July, 1838.

New York July 14, 1838
Sir,
I have received your letter of the 12 th instant, in which you say (in reply to my letter of the 9 th ) "that the names of the captains under whom you (I) served have not been furnished, as the regulations require." Your making use of the terms names and captains inclines me to believe that you mean to allude to my two months service at White Plains, under what captain, I informed you, I could not recollect, but that I remembere d the name of the lieutenant viz. Gadsrich. My claim for this service I wrote you that I relinquished for the present, provided you had any receipts in allowing it I served the time as stated, but was unable to produce any other proof of it than my own declaration — With regard to my eight months service, before Boston, I gave you as my captain William Bacon , and stated that the regiment to which he belonged was commanded by Col. John Fellows . I also added the name of the Major of that regiment, viz. and the chaplain, Spring.  Supper . I also informed you that the Secretary of State of Mass ts subjects had, in answer to a letter to him on the th , stated that the names of the foregoing captain and colonel were on the Mass ts rolls, as serving at the period mentioned, but that the list of the soldiers had been sent to the War department. — What can I do more? As to giving the names of the captains as the re
26.65 1.27 ————— 27.87

regulations require , if there be a peculiar manner of doing it, I am entirely at a loss how it should be done. — I have consulted the letter of the Secretary of War on the subject, dated Jan. 19, 1838, and can gain no light on this point. —
When the pension laws were first enacted, I made no demand because I was not then, as now, in need of its benefits. I stated in my former letter that the small amount which w d be meted for my short services were not then an object, but that impression however was a late one, for in fact I knew not the sum that w d be allowed, until I commenced to prepare my papers for the purpose of obtaining the pension. And the gentleman who aided me in this business assured me that eighty dollars a year w d be allowed; which I have found by studying the case is a mistake. —
Sir, there is no fraud in this affair, I am confident that, by the act of the government of June 7, 1832, I am entitled to my demand, and if there be any informality in my application, which I am not sensible of, I presume you will have the goodness to point it out. The name of my Captain, not " captains ", I have certainly given, and if you consult the Wats ts rolls, I have no doubt you will find that of Captain William Bacon , and John Fellows Jun r as a soldier in his company
J. L. Edwards Esq r Comm r of Pensions.
Very respectfully Your Ob t Serv t John Fellows

Fellows
July 11.
In at
N.Y.
J. L. Edwards Esq. Pension Agent Washington D.C.

New York July 9, 1838
Sir, Your note to Mr Hoffman (of the 5 th inst.) respecting my application for a pension, has been transmitted to me; in which you say, "The claimant should give the name of his captain, without which there can be no satisfactory investigation." If you will be so good as to re-peruse my documents, you will perceive that I have given the name of the captain, William Bacon. — My attorney wrote to the Secretary of State of Massachusetts to procure proofs of my name being on the musterroll of the troops in service from that State, and was informed that the a record of the officers had been retained, but the list of the soldiers was sent to the general government. The Secretary stated the name of my Capt. Bacon, & Col. Fellows as included in the record — As to my two months service at White Plains, I wrote to Mr Hoffman to waive my claim for it, for the present, provided any objection should be made — you say, moreover, that the [the applicant] I should also assign a reason

reason for having so long delayed his application. 10 Had not Mr. Hoffman been so much pressed for time, on the near adjournment of Congress, he w d have transmitted to you my letter to him on the subject, in which I stated that pride and not being in want of the small amount awarded per annum, had hitherto prevented my applying for it; but that now, in conse- -quence of the back allowance from 1831, it had become, under my present distressed circumstances, a matter of great impor- -tance. — I ask nothing but what a fair construction of the law of 1832 entitles me to — If you cannot consistently grant my claim, for the two months service at White Plains, pass it by, for after consideration, or a relinquishment of it on my part. — An early notice of your decision of the case will much oblige.
Your Ob t Serv t John Fellows
J. L. Edwards Pension Agent.

Mechanics Bank New York 14 th Sept 1839
Sir
I enclose for your examination, the papers in the case of John Fellows, a pensioner under the act of 7 th June 1832, at twenty Dollars per annum, who claims his pension from the 11 th September 1838,
Very Respectfully Your O bt Servt J Knapp Post
James L Edwards Esq Commissioner of Pensions Washington

New York 27 th April 1842
Sir
I herewith enclose the application of Mr John Fellows, a pensioner under the act of 7 th June 1832, for a new Certificate.
I also enclose the papers of Mr Benjamin O. Cain, an Invalid pensioner at $8 per month whose pension Certificate is illegally withheld.
Mr O. Cain has been under the impression that at the time I obtained his transfer from the District of Columbia to this City, that a new Certificate was forwarded to me with the letter of transfer, which was not the case, for I subsequently paid him his pension on similar papers to those enclosed, after your examination of the same.
I am Sir Respectfully Your Obedt Servt Sylvester Spencer
James L. Edwards Esq Commissioner of Pensions Washington D.C.

State of New York
City and County of New York } ss
Be it known that before me the subscriber a Notary Public in and for the State of New York residing in the city of New York, personally appeared Joseph P. Person of said city - and made oath in due form of law that he is well acquainted with John Fellows who is a pensioner of the United States, and knows him to be the identical person whom he represents himself to be in his own affidavit hereto annexed.
Sworn to and subscribed on this Eleventh day of April 1842 before me
W. P. Wilson Notary Public
Sylvester Spencer Notary Public State of New York

STATE OF NEW-YORK, CITY AND COUNTY OF NEW-YORK. } 98.
I, NATHANIEL JARVIS, CLERK of the City and County of New-York, and also Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for the said City and County, DO HEREBY CERTIFY, That Sylvester Spencer before whom the annexed depositions were taken, was, at the time of taking the same, a Notary Public in and for the said City and County, duly commissioned and sworn, and that I believe the signature s of said Notary thereunto subscribed are genuine.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said Court and County, the 11 day of May 184 2
Nath Jarvis Clerk.
before k, per- on his nged to recon lowed on the
pension roll of the state, and city of New York that he received a certificate of that fact, under the signature and seal of the Secretary of War; which certificate, on or about the fourth day of September 1841 , at or near my house No 11 Chatham St , which certificate I have made strict search for among my private papers and am unable to find the same, and is therefore lost or mislaid. John Fellows
Sworn and subscribed to, before me, the day and year aforesaid. }
Sylvester Spencer Notary Public.
State of New York

APPLICATION FOR A NEW CERTIFICATE.
City of New-York, ss.
On this Eleventh day of April 18 42 , before me the subscriber, a Notary Public for the State of New-York, personally appeared John Fellows who, on his oath, declares that he is the same person who formerly belonged to the Company commanded by Captain William Bacon in the Regiment commanded by Colonel John Fellows in the service of the United States: that his name was placed on the pension roll of the state, and city of New York that he received a certificate of that fact, under the signature and seal of the Secretary of War; which certificate, on or about the fourth day of September 18 41 , at or near my house No 11 Chatham St. which Certificate I have made strict search for among my private papers and am unable to find the same, and is therefore lost or mislaid. John Fellows
Sworn and subscribed to, before } me, the day and year aforesaid. }
Sylvester Spencer Notary Public.
State of New York

34.570 — a i
John Fellows-
N.Y.
  Vol. 14 p 28. p i -  17  7    " 27 -  7 mo 24      8 11   
adm $27.87.
Capt. Bacon. Col. Fellows
Claim City of New York  Hon. J. Hoffman H.R.

Sworn to and Subscribed } this 27 th day of June 1838 } late Recorder of the City of New York John W. Meritt before me Joseph Horie Clerk of Com Pleas
3.
And the said Court do hereby Certify and Declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the said Court do further certify that Richard Tinker — and John W. Merritt Esquires who have signed the foregoing Certificate and Ebenezer Belknap who hath subscribed and sworn to the affirmation  affirmation of the foregoing application, and who reside in the City of New York are Credible persons, and that their statements are entitled to credit.
M. Ulshoeffer for Judge D. P. Ingraham Associate Judge
Joseph Horie Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for the City and County of New York do hereby Certify that Michael Ulshoeffer is the first Judge and Daniel P. Ingraham is the Associate Judge of the said Court, and that the foregoing contains the Original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of John Fellows for a Pension, and I also certify, that the said Court were of opinion that the aforesaid applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as he states.
Joseph Horie

State of New York City & County of New York 3p:
4.
He Ebenezer Belknap of the City  town of County and State of New York do hereby certify being duly sworn do depose and say that in the year One thousand, seven hundred and seventy five, I was a soldier in the Army of the Revolution, of the United States, in a regiment of militia commanded by Colonel Ward of the County of Worcester State of Massachusetts. That at that time I knew John Fellows, now a resident of the city aforesaid and present in Court here. That the said John Fellows was a soldier in a regiment of the Massachusetts troops or militia commanded by Colonel John Fellows his uncle. That, he believes the said John Fellows entered the said regiment previous to the battle of Bunker Hill, and continued in the said regiment for the term of Eight months, usually called the Eight months service, and that this Department is now in the receipt of a Pension from the Pension Department.
Sworn and Subscribed this 2nd  1st day of January  February 1838
Joseph Hoxie Clerk of Court Pleas
Answers to the Interrogatories put by the Court pursuant to the directions of the War Department, to John Fellows the applicant aforesaid.
 1. I was born in the town of Sheffield County of Berkshire (then) Colony of Massachusetts, on the Seventeenth day of November 

one thousand seven hundred and fifty nine (1759)
2. I have seen a record of my birth in an old family bible, but whether this is now in existence I know not. If in being I know not where it is.
3. I was living in the said town of Sheffield when called into service. I have since the Revolutionary war resided a part of the time in said Sheffield, about two years at Dartmouth College, New Hampshire, the same term at Yale College, Connecticut, several years in different states as Teacher and since the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety four in the city of New York where I now reside, I may add that I served as military store keeper for the district of New York during the whole of the late war with England. I presume that I volunteered, being too young, I suppose, to be drafted. I was then between Fifteen and Sixteen years of age.
4. I knew Colonels Ward, Patterson, and Fellows, Major Tupper, Captain Bacon, Captain Chapin, and Mr Spring the Chaplain of the Regiment to which I belonged, and father to the Reverend Dr. Spring of this City.
5. I do not recollect ever having received any discharge. My firm impression is that the term of enlistment having expired, the regiment was dismissed without any discharge being given to each of the individuals composing it.
John Fellows
I was born before me this 27th June 1838.
Joseph Boxie Clerk of Conn Pleas

Charity Tullar of Sheffield in the County of Berk. Shin and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, of lawful age deposes and says - That at the commencement of the Revolutionary war she was residing, together with her brother John Fellows, now of New York, at the house of their father in said Sheffield - That within a very few days after the battle of Lexington an express ar- rived in Sheffield, from Boston, with a call for soldiers. That her said brother, John Fellows, volunteered to join the army as a soldier - That he did depart with the troops, in company with their uncle Col. Fellows - That he was absent from home for several months, as the deponent believes, with the Army at Roxbury and other places in the vicinity of Boston - That she recol- lects he was gone several months, from the fact that herself and Sister were required to labor on the farm securing the fall crops - And that he was with the army from the fact of having letters from him, dated at the seat of war and from the reports of acquaintances who were there - and that according to her best recol- lection he was with the army at that time, eight months. Dated at Sheffield May twenty eighth AD 1838.
Charity Tullar
Berkshire ss: Sheffield 28 May 1838 - Then personally appeared the said Charity Tullar and made oath to the truth of the foregoing deposition by her signed (by her mark in my pres- ence) And I do certify that the said deponent is a lady of perfectly good character for truth and veracity
Edward H. Eustis Minister of the Gospel

David Tullar of Sheffield, of lawful age deposes and says - That he was with the army of the Revolution at Boston and vicinity, for a few weeks, to sup- ply the place of his brother John Tullar who was a Line- tenant. That while there he saw John Fellows, now of New York, then of Sheffield, as a soldier - that when this deponent left the army said Fellows was remaining with the troops - and as deponent believes in the said Fellows served for some months - David Tullar
Westfield 8 th May 28. 1838. Then personally appeared the said David Tullar and made oath to the truth of the foregoing deposition by him signed. And I do certify that the said David Tullar is of perfectly unimpeachable character for truth & veracity - a clergyman of nearly ninety years of age - Ebenezer F. Cushing Pastor of the Peace
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Pittsfield ss. Charles Sedgwick Clerk of the Judicial Courts for said County - Certify that Edward H. Ensign Esq. of Sheffield, is a Justice of the Peace duly commissioned & qualified & acting and that full faith & credit are to be given to his acts done in that capacity - and that the foregoing signatures purporting to be his are genuine. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the Seal of the Supreme Judicial Court at and in this first day of June 1838. Ch s Sedgwick Clerk